Which of the following must be proven under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act?

The requirement under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act is that the party claiming a trade secret must demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to maintain the confidentiality of the information. This includes implementing security measures, such as nondisclosure agreements, restricted access, or other strategies designed to protect the secrecy of the information.

Proving that reasonable efforts were made to maintain the secret is essential because it establishes that the information qualifies as a trade secret. Without such evidence of protection, the information may not meet the statutory definition of a trade secret. This aspect of the law encourages businesses to actively safeguard their confidential information, thus helping to promote fair competition and innovation.

The other options do not align with the requirements of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. For instance, it is not necessary to prove that the secret had been publicly disclosed or that there was general knowledge of the secret, as these would undermine the very essence of what constitutes a trade secret. Similarly, proving that the secret was useless to the business contradicts the intention of trade secrets, which are valuable because they provide a competitive advantage.